Former prospect of the year and can’t-miss junior welterweight contender Ernesto Mercado has already been billed as the future of American boxing and a surefire bet to become a future world champion.

Armed with Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn in his corner, “Tito” is ready to realize his true potential whenever he’s presented with a world title shot.

In the meantime, the 23-year-old power-punching Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) must first get on the mend after an injury that forced him out of his June 14 fight against Jonathan Montrel.

The bout was supposed to take place on DAZN at New York’s Madison Square Garden Theater on the undercard of 140-pound IBF champion Richardson Hitchins’ first title defense and eight-round stoppage win against George Kambosos.

"It’s very unfortunate and disappointing that I had to go through this injury," Mercado told The Ring. "I tried everything I could to make it through the pain and fight, but it was not possible. This fight was everything that I needed to make some more noise with a big knockout win and call out that overrated clown Richardson Hitchins."

Mercado said he was injured on his final day of sparring June 4, and five days later he was officially off the card and lost his leverage and platform to publicly lambaste Hitchins.

“He’s just a basic fighter, and he’s lucky to be a world champion,” said Mercado. “He chose the weakest guy in Kambosos to look good against and did what he had to do. And then he goes on to talk [trash] saying he’s a free agent.”

Mercado is optimistic that Matchroom can build a bout between him and the equally brash and skilled Hitchins.

“Hitchins would be the perfect fight to make for me,” said Mercado. “Everyone knows I love fighting guys who run their mouth and talk. I don’t think he’s that good. He’s an overrated fighter. He has the basic fundamentals, but his win against Liam Paro wasn’t anything special, either.

“He thinks he’s the next Floyd Mayweather and the hottest [expletive] in the world. He’s the kind of fighter I would easily break down because I have the entire arsenal. He looks very fragile, and I’ll guarantee that I’ll knock his ass out and take his belt. He’s the perfect opponent for me, and it would bring me even more satisfaction and fulfillment to beat him in his backyard in New York. I hope that fight gets made.”

Mercado envisions getting fully healthy and back in the ring as early as the fall. Whether or not Montrel remains on the table as his opponent remains to be seen.

“It’s been hard to get opportunities because I’ve been knocking out everyone so quickly,” said Mercado. “We’re trying to get the best opponents that we possibly can. I say yes to everyone they offer me. I want high-level guys. I’m not trying to be a contender for the rest of my life. I’m ready to fight for the world title right now.”

In his most recent fight in January, his first since signing with Matchroom, Mercado blasted former titleholder Jose Pedraza in four rounds. Surprisingly, however, the four major sanctioning bodies still don’t have the four-year pro ranked in the top 15 despite his knockout wins against other known commodities Jeremia Nakathila, Hank Lundy and Jayson Velez.

“I’m not going to say these other guys are not deserving to be ranked, but I have beaten some very high-level guys,” said Mercado. “I have better resumes than most of them already. It’s crazy, but I trust Matchroom to get me where I need to go.”